(North Canton, OH – Apr. 30, 2009) – Stark State College has awarded 22 health technologies students more than $16,000 in community-based job training scholarships, provided through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The three-year Expanding Capacity in Health Occupations (ECHO) grant, which focuses on meeting current and projected healthcare worker shortages in the region, was awarded to Stark State in 2008.

During the three-year grant period, approximately 400 additional health students, including dislocated workers, incumbent workers who need new skills and new entrants to the workforce will benefit from the grant. “Despite current economic struggles, health professions remain career opportunities that are in demand, not only in our region, but nationally,” said John Thornton, dean of health technologies at Stark State.

The ECHO grant will allow Stark State to expand capacity in current health technologies by offering several of the programs at off-campus sites in Wayne, Holmes and Medina counties in the future, and through the development of new health-related technologies. The College currently offers 17 associate degrees and one-year certificates in health-related professions.

Students receiving scholarships in the expanded functions dental auxiliary (EFDA) program are: Jill Carbenia, Canton; Dreama Sue Beringer, Patricia Blue-Boswell and Christine Bucholtz, Massillon; Jourdan Madigan, Orrville; Susan Maximo, Cambridge; Dulcie Warner, Millersburg and Amy Slevin, Sarahsville.

Scholarships in medical coding were awarded to Lesley Williams and Karen Bednar, Canton, and Maria Rey, Massillon. Scholarships in medical assisting were awarded to: Victoria Eggleston and Shelly Wright, Canton; Christin Dumont, Copley; Melissa Miller, Hartville and Michelle Miller, Louisville. Scholarships in the paramedic program were awarded to: Justin Clarke and Jason Forberg, Canton; Matthew Bowery, Cuyahoga Falls; Jeremiah Hershberger, Doylestown; James Taylor, Kent and Eric Roque, Wooster.

For more information, call 330-494-6170 or visit www.starkstate.edu/scholarships.

This project was funded [in part, as applicable] by a grant awarded under the President’s Community-Based Job Training Grants, as implemented by the U. S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.